Dengie band The Mays raise over £1k in memory of brother

The Mays started out as a four-piece boy band of brothers in 1975 in the Dengie near Tillingham going through various iterations over the years.

In 2019, Michael May, the band’s drummer, died from cancer after being cared for on Broomfield Hospital's Heybridge Ward.

Julian May, 67, said: “The care was excellent from the ward team.

“He came out and lived for another year before receiving palliative care. We wanted to show our gratitude in the best way we knew how, through music.”

Idea - The idea for the fundraising event came from Michael, seen as a drummer (Image: Submitted)

Performance - The band then known as 'For-May-Shun' in the early 1980s, (L to R) David, Peter, Micheal and Julian (Image: Submitted)

Julian said the group had time since 2019 to mourn Michael’s passing and knew it was the right time to do the fundraiser alongside the 50th anniversary.

The brothers were joined on stage by two members of the group’s teenage inspiration, T-Bone-Steak, with about 80 people in attendance at Burnham Village Hall.

When asked about the response of the fans across Essex and in Burnham during the concert, Julian said: “It has always been outstanding.

“We are not from Burnham, we have played all over the shop, but the people who turn up and enjoy the music, that’s why you do it, that’s why we all do it.”

The group was able to raise £1070 to Heybridge Ward, which provides oncology care, meaning cancer prevention care and gastric surgery.

Fundraiser - (L to R back row) Trish and Peter May, Dawn May, Michael's wife, Inez Robinson, Debbie Elliott, David May, Faye Bailey,NHS, (front L-R) Mary May, mother, and Julian May (Image: Submitted)

Julian, who plays lead guitar and is the main vocalist in the group, said the concert held in May also linked together with the release of the band’s latest album.

The album, sold at the band’s gigs, is called ‘From the Archives’ and it includes some of the band’s early recordings in Southend.

Julian said the change and maturity of the brother’s voices and playing is leading the group to re-record three of their own original songs next year to be part of a new album.

Band - The band in May 2025, (L to R) From left to right Ian Cundy, Peter May, Rick Fitzpatrick, Julian May and David May (Image: Submitted)

Throwback - The 'From the Archives' sessions in 1980 (Image: Submitted)

Julian said he plays in two other bands partly because it takes time to arrange for the brothers to be together.

This makes his writing process highly personal, with Julian regarding his five decades of being in the band, adding: “I still love playing.”